Man Engages in Violence during Child Custody Dispute

A man struck his child's mother and grandmother with his car after disagreeing over their child custody situation. Brett Reed, 47, was driving with his brother-in-law Seleso Ruiz Jr., attempting to drive away with his children when their mother, Jennifer Roberts, and grandmother, Linda Bryant, stood in front of the 2006 silver Chrysler Sebring.

Instead of listening to the women's pleas to return their children, Reed supposedly put the car into drive and moved his vehicle forward, striking the women. He then backed the car up and raced towards Bryant, striking her a second time. Reed and Ruiz left the scene of the crime after that.

They were eventually tracked down by local deputies who charged Reed with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

The children's mother was taken to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital by ambulance where her minor injuries were treated. Bryant was released the same day. Her mother, Roberts, was also taken to the hospital and released later that day.

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